Irrigation-union.



Patented Nov. 28, i916.

F, I. CHIVIBtHLm.

IRRIGATION UNION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7,19!"

IIIIVI imiwmv wu I FRANK .i1 CHAMBERLIN, or BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

IRRIGATIOILUNIW Lancero.

snee-irisation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 228, 19%.

Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 78,836. f

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it known that l, FRANK J. @iraniana LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the countyv of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Irrigation- Unions, of which the following is a speciiation. v

This invention relatesjto irrigation unions designed for use in irrigation systems of that kind wherein a main water :feed pipe is connected with lateral spray pipes arranged in alineinent with to be oscillated during the spraying action. The object ot' the invention is to provide a union or connection Abetween the niain feed 'pipe and the lateral spray pipes, whereby the same will be coupled together, said connection also serving as an oscil'latable support 'for the spray pipes and a valve controlling the flow of water thereto, bymeans of which both sprayv pipes may be' simulta neously oseillated andv the water supplied thereto, and whereby the number of parts or fittings necessary for the purpose is reduced to a material extent so as to simplify and reduce the cost of installing overhead,

irrigation'systeins of the character defined.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a union or connection which is sirnple of construction, reliable and eflicient in action, adapted-to be readily and conveniently cleansed when oc'easioii requires, which is proof against the leakage of water,

and which may be readily applied and re,-A

r 'moved l in opposite directions beyond the feed pipeI The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying vdrawing in which Figure 1 is a sectiony taken longitudinally through the union and at right Vangles to the main feed pipeand showing the parts Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, taken in a in' normal position.

direction parallel with the main feed pipe. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a main waterv feed pipe-shown as consisting of sections united :by a T-connection 2, and 3 designates lateral ,spray pipes .projecting and at right angles thereto: These spray pipes may be provided with controlling valves' 4to govern'theetlowrfof the water 'theretn i each other and adaptedr My improved union comprises a l'l`-eonnec tion 5, in the .form oiE substantially globu# lar casing 6 having 7 which is internally threaded tozireceive a short pipe 8 connecting the saniewith the union 2, and which is provided with lateral outlet branches 9 arranged in alinernent with each other, and which outlet branches have cylindrical bores or passages ot 'the same diameter as each other and of materially less diameter than easing. The body of the casing thus forms an enlarged water circulating' chamber 10 'to supply water Vin proper volume: to supply the pipes 3 ,for the sprinkling action.

Extending longitudinally through the union 5 isa supporting and conducting tube 11, which tubeextends across the casing 10 and outwardly through and beyond the lateral outlets This tube is provided at an intermediate point. with ports 12 coininunicating with the chamber 10, whereby thew-ater iroin the main reed pipe is caused to first enter the chamber 1() and then find its way through the ports 12 into the tube 11. The outer tace of the central portion of the tube in which the ports 12, are formed is recessedto receive a strainer' 13 by means of which'all foreign or refuse material flowing with the water will be prevented from passing into thetube 11 and will be retained within the chamber 10 and caused to pass backy to and through the feed pipe.

Une end of the tube 11 is .orn'iedwith a packing gland 14 and a lever; handle 15, and

beyond said gland said end of the tube'is .externally threaded, as at 16, for connection a depending inlet branch that of ythe body of the` readily understood. 0n the threaded vend 17 of thetube 11 is a gland 18 which is threaded for adjustable engagement therewith and is Aadapted'to be held'inadjusted position by means oa lock nut 19, and between the two glands 14- and 18 and the adjacent ends ofthe respective outlets 9 are interposed packings 9.0, whereby the outlets are sealed against thefescaping Water between the saine and the tube. By adyusting the gland 18 the tube 11 may be moved longitudinally withinthe union easing, so that IGS to draw up the packings and thereby keep 'the same tight and proof against leakage.

In the top portion of the casing of the union is a flushing opening closed by a. plug 21, by means of which the chamber 10 may be fiushedwhenever required to free the same from any accumulated deposits.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that 'the' tube v11, which is mounted to turn or oscillate within the body of the union, through the medium of the lever handle 15, forms a support for the spray pipes 3 and also a conductor connecting said pipes with the main feed pipe through the union, so that upon opening the valves 4 and osciliating the tube 11 by means of the lever 15 both lpipes 3 will also be oscillated and water will be supplied thereto through the ports 12 forthe sprinkling action. By this construction the device is adapted to perform the dual function of an oscillating element and a union or'conducting connection between the spray pipes and the main feed pipe, whereby one or more fittings ofthe character commonly employed may be dispensed with at a material saving of time and labor as well as in the number of parts requiredl in the erection of irrigation systems of the character described. The device also provides a means by which both sprinkler pipes may be simultaneously oscillatcd, whereby greater convenience and a saving in time and labor in operating said pipejs afforded over other systems.

I claim l In an irrigation system, a main feed pipe, a T-connection communicating therewith, a' tube extending through and journaled in said connection, said tube having its ends 4o projecting beyond the lateral outlets of the connection and being provided with openings connecting the interior of said tube with the feed pipe, sprinkler pipes connected with the ends of the tube,'a gland integral 45 with one ofthe projecting ends of the tube, a gland adjustable upon the other end of thev tube, said glands embracing the outlets of the easing, packing between the glands and outlets of the casing, and a lever carried by 50 the integral gland.

'ln rvtestimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. CHAMBERLIN.

Vitnesss ABBIE K. NORTON, Bassin E. FAGAN, 

